Sealing device for a container neck

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sealing device which includes a tubular skirt, suitable for being removably attached to a neck of a container in order to seal said neck, and an annular lip, arranged inside the skirt, and suitable for resting sealingly against an inner surface of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck. The invention also includes a membrane, which is arranged inside the skirt, by extending transversely to the axis, in which one peripheral end is connected to the lip in a stationary manner in the direction of the axis by forming a flexible hinge providing a relative connection between the lip and the membrane, said flexible hinge running along the entire periphery of the lip, generally on a geometric plane transverse to the axis, and which is deformable by connecting the flexible hinge between a first stable configuration, in which all of the membrane, except for the peripheral end thereof, is arranged on a first axial side of the geometric plane, rotated opposite a wide mouth of the neck when the skirt is attached to said neck; and a second stable configuration, in which the entire membrane, except for the peripheral end thereof, is arranged on the opposite side of the geometric plane, the axial positioning between the peripheral end of the membrane and the geometric plane being unchanged when the membrane switches between the first and second configurations, in order to reinforce the seal of the interface between the sealing device and the neck, even when the circumstances might damage said seal, the membrane is designed so that, when the skirt is attached to the neck and the lip is resting against the neck, the membrane switches from the first configuration to the second configuration under an over pressure inside the container, and then the membrane, once in the second configuration, presses the lip against the neck.

The present invention relates to a sealing device for a container neck.

The invention generally relates to closures, typically made fromplastic, which comprise a tubular skirt, designed to surround the neckof a container to be sealed and for their inner surface to be attachedremovably to the outer surface of this neck: this attachment is forexample done by screwing, like in FR 2,987,607, the closures thengenerally being called screwed closures, or this removable attachmentcan be done by jamming, like in FR 2,908,746, the closures thengenerally being called clipped or “snapped” closures. In all cases, theskirt is topped by a closing wall from the periphery of which the skirtextends axially: this closing wall extends through the container neck toseal it when the skirt is attached on the neck. Furthermore, a lip,which extends from the closing wall, is arranged inside the skirt: whenthe skirt is attached to the neck, the outer surface of this lip, i.e.,its surface turned radially away from the central axis of the skirt,rests sealingly against an inner surface of the neck so as to close thisneck sealingly. The outer surface of this sealing lip is generallyconvex to provide the most sealed possible contact with the neck, thelip then typically being described as “olive lip”.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,252 discloses a closure having a lip of this type,inside which a deformable membrane is arranged. This membrane includes acentral part, as well as a peripheral part connecting the central partto the lip. The closure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,252 is particularlyapplicable in the field of packaging for medical use: the membrane isdesigned to deform during an increase in the pressure inside a containerclosed by the closure. More specifically, during such a pressureincrease, the central and peripheral parts of the membrane do not deformjointly, but successively: in a first phase, only the central partdeforms, by articulation of a flexible hinge provided at the junctionbetween the central and peripheral parts, which tends to reinforce thesealing of the closing of the resulting container due to the fact thatthe central part goes from one side to the other of the peripheral part,which remains stationary relative to the lip; then, in a second phase,since the central part is completely deformed, it is the peripheral partthat deforms, by articulation of a flexible hinge that is provided atthe junction between the peripheral end of the peripheral part and thesealing lip, and the axial position of which is unchanged throughout theentire deformation of the membrane, which leads to separating the lipwith respect to the container and therefore breaking the sealing of theclosing of the container by the closure, in particular to prevent thecontainer from breaking by explosion. Thus, the teaching of U.S. Pat.No. 5,458,252 consists of the fact that, in case of internal overpressure of the container, the deformation of its entire membranebetween two stable configurations must result in the neutralization ofthe sealed closing effect procured by the lip.

This having been recalled, certain circumstances tend to damage thesealing performance of the lips of the aforementioned type. Indeed,during various preparation, filling and/or capping operations of thecontainer, heating, for example for sterilization or other purposes, theneck of the container and/or the closure incurs a risk of altering thesealing characteristics at the interface between the closure and theneck due to their deformation under the effect of the heat. Inparticular, due to creeping of its component plastic material, the liptends no longer to rest firmly enough against the neck, with subsequentrisks of leaking and/or contamination of the contents of the container.

To combat the loss of sealing at the interface between the closure andthe neck, it is known to cover the closing wall of the closure with anelastomeric layer, which, when the skirt is attached to the neck, isinterposed axially between the closing wall and the locking ring of theneck. Such an elastomeric coating for example withstands the heating ofthe container neck and/or the closure, without alteration of its sealingperformance. However, integrating this coating into the closure iscostly and causes other problems, in particular regarding the ease ofopening the closure.

The aim of the present invention is to improve lip closures, for examplewith an olive lip, by reinforcing the sealing of their interface withthe neck of a container that they close, even in case of circumstancesthat are detrimental to this sealing, in particular in case of heatingof the container neck and/or the closure for sterilization or otherpurposes.

To that end, the invention relates to a sealing device for a containerneck, as defined in claim 1.

One of the ideas at the base of the invention is to try to “repress” thelip against the inner surface of the neck after the skirt has beenattached to the neck, and more generally, after the sealing device hasbeen installed on the neck, including, if applicable, aftercircumstances have occurred, such as heating of the sealing deviceand/or the container neck for sterilization or other purposes, that aredetrimental to the sealing performance of the interface between the neckand the sealing device, in particular between the neck and the lip. Tothat end, the invention provides for integrating, into the sealingdevice, a bistable membrane capable of deforming between two stableconfigurations, while remaining axially attached, by its peripheral end,to the lip. In the first configuration, the entire membrane, except itsperipheral end, is arranged on one axial side of the geometric plane atwhich its peripheral end is fixedly connected to the lip, while in thesecond configuration, the entire membrane, except its peripheral end, isarranged on the other axial side of this geometric plane: it isunderstood that by taking the membrane from the first configuration tothe second, this membrane deforms while tending to expand the liptransversely, i.e., while tending to move the lip radially outward overthe entire periphery of the lip. According to the invention, themembrane is designed so that in the second configuration, this membranecontinues to apply part of these expansion forces to the lip, whichmeans that when the sealing device is in place on the neck, themembrane, once in the second configuration, presses the lip against theneck. It is then understood that by providing for taking the membranefrom its first configuration to its second configuration afterpotentially releasing the bearing of the lip against the neck, thisrelease in particular resulting from heating of the sealing deviceand/or the neck during various preparation, filling and/or cappingoperations of the container, the lip is firmly repressed against theneck, which restores or even improves the sealing procured by this lip.

Due to its arrangement within the sealing device according to theinvention, the membrane is provided to go from its first configurationto its second configuration under the effect of an over pressure insidethe container, the intensity of this over pressure of course having tobe sufficient to deform the membrane from its first configuration, whichis intrinsically stable, to at least one deformed state from which themembrane tends to reach a stable state corresponding to its secondconfiguration. This being the case, the origin of this over pressure isnot limiting with respect to the invention. As an example, this overpressure inside the container is preferably obtained by reversing thebottom of the container at the end of the sealing of a containerincluding a bottom made up of a reversible membrane, like that describedin the international application published under number WO 2015/192918.

The embodiments of the membrane are numerous and subject to variousalternatives, as exemplified hereinafter. In all cases, the sealingdevice according to the invention can be manufactured simply,cost-effectively and efficiently, in particular by molding plasticmaterial either in a single piece, or in two pieces to be assembled toone another, advantageously made from the same plastic material.

Additional advantageous features of the sealing device according to theinvention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the followingdescription, provided solely as an example and done in reference to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sealing deviceaccording to the invention, shown in a not-yet-assembled state;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sealing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the sealing device of FIG. 1in the assembled state;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the sealing device, in theassembled state, installed on a container neck;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the sealing device in ausage configuration, subsequent to that shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 4 and 5,illustrating a second embodiment of a sealing device according to theinvention;

FIGS. 8 to 11 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 2 to 5,illustrating a third embodiment of a sealing device according to theinvention; and

FIGS. 12 to 14 are views respectively similar to FIGS. 3 to 5,illustrating a fourth embodiment of a sealing device according to theinvention.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a sealing device 1 suitable for being attached byscrewing, removably, on a neck 2 of a container 3, shown in FIGS. 4 and5, in which only part of this container 3 is visible. In practice, theneck 2 is either integral with the rest of the container 3, inparticular when the latter is a glass or plastic bottle, or suitable forbeing permanently secured on a wall of the container, at an openingtraversing this wall.

The sealing device 1 and the neck 2 have respective shapes extendingaround central longitudinal axes that are substantially combined, underreference X-X, when the sealing device 1 is attached on the neck 2 likein FIGS. 4 and 5. For convenience, the rest of the description isoriented considering that the terms “upper” and “top” correspond to adirection globally parallel to the axis X-X and going from the main bodyof the container 3 toward the free end of its neck 2, i.e., a directionoriented toward the top part of the figures, while the terms “lower” and“bottom” correspond to a direction in the opposite sense. Furthermore,the adjective “inner” designates a direction transverse to the axis X-Xthat is oriented toward this axis, while the adjective “outer”designates a direction transverse to the axis that is oriented in theopposite sense.

The neck 2 includes a tubular body 4 with a circular base, with axisX-X. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the body 4 delimits, at its upper end, alocking ring 5 at which the liquid contained in the container 3, or moregenerally the content of this container, is intended to be poured. Onthe outer surface of the body 4, the neck 2 includes a thread 6protruding from an outer surface 4A of the body 4.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sealing device 1 includes twoseparate components which, to position the sealing device in afunctional state illustrated in FIG. 3, are securely assembled to oneanother. These two components are a closure 10 and an insert 20.

The closure 10, when the sealing device 1 is considered to be attachedon the neck 2, is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end by aclosing wall 11. This closing wall 11 extends across, or perpendicularto, the axis X-X and has a solid discoid shape that is substantiallycentered on the axis X-X.

The closure 10 also includes a tubular skirt 12, which is centered onthe axis X-X and which extends axially downward from the outer peripheryof the closing wall 11. The skirt 12 thus laterally has an outer surface12A and an inner surface 12B, which, in the example considered in thefigures, both have a circular base, centered on the axis X-X.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the sealing device 1 is attached on theneck 2, the closing wall 11 extends both above the neck 2, while inparticular being positioned axially over the locking ring 5, and acrossthis neck, while in particular being arranged across the entire openingof this neck. Furthermore, the skirt 12 outwardly surrounds the body 4of the neck 2, its inner surface 12B being across from the outer surface4A of this body 4.

The skirt 12 is inwardly provided with removable attachment means to theneck 2, these attachment means being made up, in the embodimentconsidered here, of a thread 13 that protrudes from the inner surface128 of the skirt and that winds in a helix on this inner surface 128.The attachment of the sealing device 1 on the neck 2 consists ofscrewing the thread 13 around the body 4 of the neck, this thread 13engaging the thread 6 of this body 4, until the closing wall 11 isdownwardly pressed against the locking ring 5, as shown in FIGS. 4 and5. Conversely, removing the sealing device 1 from the neck 2 consists ofunscrewing the thread 13 with respect to thread 6, until disengaging ittherefrom.

The closure 10 further includes an annular lip 14, which extends axiallydownward from the closing wall 11, centered on the axis X-X, inside theskirt 12: when the sealing device 1 is attached on the neck 2 like inFIGS. 4 and 5, an outer surface 14A of the lip 14 rests sealinglyagainst an inner surface 48 of the body 4 of the neck 2 in order to sealthe closing of this neck by the sealing device_([ES1])

As an advantageous arrangement making it possible to reinforce thesealing of this closing, the outer surface 14A of the lip 14 isoutwardly convex, in particular in order to increase the expanse and/orintensity of the contact between the lip 14 and the body 4 of the neck2.

Also by way of optional development seeking to reinforce the sealing ofthe closing of the neck 2 by the sealing device 1, the inner surface 12Bof the skirt 12 is provided, at its upper end, with a protruding heel15, which locally restricts the inner periphery of the skirt 12 relativeto the rest of the inner surface 128 of the skirt. When the sealingdevice 1 is attached to the neck 2, this heel 15 fittingly hugs theouter periphery of the locking ring 5 of the neck 2, the neck thusbeing, in a way, pinched between the lip 14 and the heel 15.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert 20 in turn comprises amembrane 21 and an annular ring 22, which surrounds the periphery of themembrane 21. When the closure 10 and the insert 20 are assembled to oneanother, the membrane 21 extends globally transversely to the axis X-X,while being arranged inside the skirt 12, and the central axis of thering 22 is substantially combined with the axis X-X, such that, forconvenience, this central axis of the ring 22 is also designatedhereinafter under reference X-X.

The ring 22 is designed, in particular due to its outer sizing, to beengaged and attached inside the lip 14 of the closure 10 so as toprovide the stationary assembly between the closure 10 and the insert20. According to one practical embodiment, the ring 22 is fitted, inparticular snap-fitted, inside the lip 14, so as to be securely lammedagainst the inner surface 14B of the lip 14. According to onearrangement, which is an alternative or addition to this fitting andwhich is not shown in detail in the figures, the inner surface 14B ofthe lip 14 has an undercut that participates in keeping the ring 22 inposition inside the lip 14 in the assembled state of the sealing device1. Likewise, in addition or as an alternative to the fitting of the ring22 inside the lip 14, other assembly developments can be considered,such as welding, gluing, clipping, etc. of the insert in the closure.

If applicable, the attachment of the ring 22 inside the lip 14 isreinforced by peripheral pinching of the ring 22, subject to a radialdeformation of the lip 14, oriented toward the axis X-X, when thesealing device 1 is installed on the neck 2, like in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the membrane 21 includes twoconcentric parts, namely a central part 23 and a peripheral part 24,which, when the insert 20 is assembled to the closure 10, aresubstantially centered on the axis X-X. In the embodiment considered inthe figures, the central part 23 has a globally discoid shape and theperipheral part 24 has a globally annular shape. For reasons that willappear later, the central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 are joinedto one another by a flexible hinge 25 that runs all the way around theaxis X-X: thus, the outer periphery of the central part 23 is, over itsentire expanse, connected to the inner periphery of the peripheral part24 by the flexible hinge 25, which thus directly connects these outerand inner peripheries to one another. The flexible hinge 25 makes itpossible to locally bend the membrane 21, by relative articulationbetween its central part 23 and its peripheral part 24 around ageometric articulation axis running all the way around the axis X-X.

At its outer periphery, the peripheral part 24 constitutes a peripheralend 21A of the membrane 21, while forming a flexible junction hinge 26with the ring 22. This flexible hinge 26 extends all the way around theaxis X-X and allows the relative articulation between the peripheralpart 24 and the ring 22 around a geometric articulation axis that runsall the way around the axis X-X.

Irrespective of the embodiment of the junction between the peripheralend 21A of the membrane 21 and the ring 22, this peripheral end 21A andthis ring 22 are stationary relative to one another in the direction ofthe axis X-X, such that, in the assembled state of the sealing device 1like in FIG. 3, the peripheral end 21A of the membrane 21 is connectedto the lip 14 of the closure 10 in a stationary manner in the directionof the axis X-X, running over the entire inner periphery of the lip 14at a geometric plane P that is transverse, or even, like here,perpendicular to the axis X-X. In the embodiment considered in FIGS. 1to 5, it is understood that the peripheral end 21A of the membrane 21constitutes the part of the flexible hinge 26 that remains axiallystationary relative to the lip 14, the rest of this flexible hinge 26being made up of a peripheral strip of the peripheral part 24 of themembrane 21, this peripheral strip connecting the peripheral end 21A tothe rest of the peripheral part 24.

By articulation of its flexible hinges 25 and 26, the membrane 21 isdeformable between two stable configurations, i.e., a firstconfiguration, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a second configuration, shownin FIG. 5. In the first configuration, the entire membrane 21, exceptits peripheral end 21A, is arranged on the lower side of the geometricplane P, with its central part 23 axially further from this geometricplane P than its peripheral part 24. In the second configuration, theentire membrane 21, except its peripheral end 21A, is arranged on theupper side of the geometric plane P, with its central part 23 axiallyfurther from this geometric plane P than its peripheral part 24. Ofcourse, because the peripheral end 21A is axially stationary at thegeometric plane P, the axial positioning between this peripheral end 21Aand the geometric plane P is unchanged when the membrane 21 is deformedbetween its first and second configurations. When the sealing device 1is attached to the neck 2, like in FIGS. 4 and 5, the deformation of themembrane 21 from its first configuration to its second configurationcauses the membrane 21 to apply, to the lip 14 through the ring 22,transverse expansion stresses of the lip 14, i.e., stresses, globallyradial to the axis X-X and oriented outward, that tend to separate thelip 14 outward over the entire periphery of this lip. Yet since theouter surface 14A of the lip 14 is stressed in terms of positioning withrespect to the neck 2 due to its bearing against the inner surface 4B ofthe body 4 of this neck, the aforementioned expansion forces cause thelip 14 to rest against the neck 2, i.e., to rest against the innersurface 4B of this neck more than this tip rests when the membrane 21 isin its first configuration. Furthermore, the membrane 21 is designedsuch that, once it is in its second deformation configuration, themembrane keeps at least part of the aforementioned expansion forces,thus firmly pressing the lip 14 against the neck 2, which reinforces thesealing of the contact between the outer surface 14A of the lip 14 andthe inner surface 4B of the body 4 of the neck 2 compared to the sealingof this contact when the membrane 21 is in its first configuration. Inparticular, due to its design, the membrane 21 occupying the secondconfiguration thus applies, to the lip 14, a force F′ that is transverseand centrifugal with respect to the axis X-X, as indicated in FIG. 5. Inthe embodiment considered in FIGS. 1 to 5, the ability of the membrane21 to thus press the lip 14 against the neck 2 once this membrane hasentered the second configuration results from the structure and thearrangement of its central part 23, its peripheral part 24 and itsflexible hinge 25.

To cause the deformation of the membrane 21 from its first configurationto its second configuration whereas the sealing device 1 is attached tothe neck 2, an over pressure must be created inside the container 3: dueto its arrangement inside and across the neck 2, the membrane 21 issensitive to a fluid force F, indicated in FIG. 5, generated inside thecontainer 3, in particular inside the neck 2, by the aforementioned overpressure. In practice, as previously mentioned, the origin of this overpressure is not limiting with respect to the invention, inasmuch as theintensity of the over pressure is sufficient to deform the membrane 21from its first configuration to its second configuration, or at the veryleast to an intermediate deformed state from which the membrane 21 willtend, by return toward a stable state, toward its second configurationrather than toward its first configuration. As an example, theaforementioned over pressure results from the reversal of a wall, inparticular the bottom, of the container 3.

According to one optional arrangement, which is implemented in the firstembodiment considered in FIGS. 1 to 5, the central part 23 of themembrane 21 is provided, on its upper surface, with a spacer 27. Asclearly visible in FIG. 1, this spacer 27 for example has an annularshape, centered on the axis X-X and with a circular base. When themembrane 21 goes from its first configuration to its secondconfiguration, the spacer 27 comes axially closer to the closing wall11. Furthermore, the axial dimensioning of the spacer 27 is provided sothat, when the membrane 21 reaches the second deformation configuration,the spacer 27 abuts axially against the closing wall 11, thusconstraining the membrane 21 downward, toward the geometric plane P:this stress advantageously reinforces the pressing action of the lip 14against the neck 2 by the membrane 21. and thus the sealing of thecontact between the lip and the neck.

It will be noted that the manufacturing specificities of the sealingdevice 1 described thus far are not limiting with respect to theinvention. This being the case, one practical embodiment consists ofproducing, on the one hand, the closure 10 in a single piece by moldinga plastic material, and on the other hand, the insert 20 in a signalpiece by molding a plastic material, which is advantageously the same asthat of the closure 10. In particular, the closure 10 and/or the insert20 are advantageously made from a semi-rigid plastic material, such aspolypropylene and/or polyethylene, preferably shaped by molding. As aresult for the insert 20 and the ring 22, the central part 23 and theperipheral part 24 are molded integrally together. More generally, thering 22, the central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 areadvantageously integral together. Regarding the closure 10, it will benoted that, considered alone, this closure corresponds to pre-existingembodiments: thus, the sealing device 1 can be obtained by assembling apre-existing closure, is making up the closure 10, with the insert 20.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the sealing device 1, inthe form of a sealing device 101.

The sealing device 101 comprises a closure 110 that is functionally, oreven, like here, structurally similar to the closure 10 of the sealingdevice 1. The closure 110 will therefore not be described in more detailhere.

The sealing device 101 also comprises an insert 120 including a membrane121 and a ring 122. The ring 122 is functionally, or even, like here,structurally similar to the ring 22 of the insert 20 of the sealingdevice 1. The ring 122 will therefore not be described here in moredetail.

The membrane 121 differs from the membrane 21 of the insert 20 by thefact that, rather than being made in the form of concentric parts likethe central part 23 and the peripheral part 24 of the membrane 21, thismembrane 121 is made up of a web 128. As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,this web 128 has, outside its peripheral end corresponding to theperipheral end 121A of the membrane 121, a substantially homogeneousthickness, with the understanding that this thickness corresponds to thesmallest dimension of the three dimensions of the web 128 and isdelimited between the lower and upper surfaces of the web 128. The webconfiguration of the membrane 121 allows the latter to deform betweenthe first and second configurations, by continuous bending of the web128, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

During operation, the behavior of the membrane 121 is similar to that ofthe membrane 21, in particular in connection with the application to themembrane 121 of the fluid force F and the application by the membrane121 of the force F′ to the sealing lip of the closure 110.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show an alternative embodiment to the sealing device 1, inthe form of a sealing device 201.

The sealing device 201 includes a closure 210 including a skirt 212 anda lip 214 that are functionally, or even, like here, structurallysimilar to the skirt 12 and the lip 14 of the closure 10 of the sealingdevice 1. The closure 210 differs from the closure 10 by the fact that,unlike the latter, the closure 210 is not, at its upper end, closed by aclosing wall similar to the closing wall 11. More specifically, theclosure 210 includes, at its upper end, a discoid crown 211, which iscentered on the axis X-X and which is open-worked in its central region,i.e., crossed all the way through by a hole 211A. The skirt 12 and thelip 214 extend axially downward from the crown 211, similarly to thearrangement of the skirt 12 and the lip 14 from the peripheral region inquestion of the closing wall 11 of the closure 10. Thus, when theclosure 210 is attached to the neck 2 of the container 3, like in FIGS.10 and 11, the crown 211 extends axially over the locking ring 5 of thisneck 2.

Furthermore, the closure 210 comprises a membrane 221, which,functionally, is similar to the membrane 21 of the closure 10, in thatthis membrane 221 is deformable between the first and secondconfigurations previously defined. The membrane 221 differs structurallyfrom the membrane 21 by the fact that its peripheral end 221A is joineddirectly to the lip 214, the membrane 221 thus protruding from the innersurface 214B of the lip 214, as clearly shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. In otherwords, unlike the membrane 21, the membrane 221 is not associated with aring, like the ring 22 of the sealing device 1, and is not integratedinto a separate insert of the closure, like the insert 20 of the sealingdevice 1: on the contrary, the membrane 221 is integrated into theclosure 210, without inserting an intermediate part between thismembrane 221 and the lip 214.

In practice, the membrane 221 is advantageously integral with the lip214, in particular molded integrally with this lip. Within the closure210, the hole 211A of the crown 211 is arranged axially over themembrane 221, such that the upward closing of the closure 10 is providedjointly by the crown 211 and the membrane 221, even if, like in theexample embodiment considered in the figures, this crown 211 and thismembrane 221 are not located at the same level along the axis X-X.

During operation, the sealing device 201 behaves similarly to thesealing device 1, in particular in connection with the application onthe membrane 221 of the fluid force F to take this membrane from itsfirst deformation configuration to its second deformation configuration,as well as in connection with the application to the lip 214 of theforce F′ by the membrane 221 when the latter occupies its seconddeformation configuration.

Compared to the closure 10 of the sealing device 1, it is understoodthat the closure 210 of the sealing device 201 does not correspond to apre-existing closure. The manufacture, in particular by molding, of theclosure 210 therefore requires specific arrangements.

By way of optional arrangement of the sealing device 201, the latterincludes an attached part, intended to close the hole 211A of the crown211: this attached part thus constitutes a closing cap 230, which, inFIG. 8, is shown disassembled from the closure 210, while in FIGS. 9 to11, this cap 230 is assembled to the closure 210. This assembly consistsof attaching the cap 230 to the hole 211A of the crown 211, through anyappropriate means, for example by welding, gluing, jamming, etc. Sincethe cap 230 does not participate in the sealed closing of the neck 2,this cap can be made from quite varied materials: by way of non-limitingexample, the cap 230 can be made from a multilayer complex, havingreinforced capacities for protecting the content of the container 3 fromoxygen and/or ultraviolet rays, more generally reinforced capacities forpreserving the product contained in the container 3. Irrespective of itscomponent material, the cap 230 can advantageously integrate a markingon its upper surface, such as an advertisement.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show an alternative embodiment to the sealing device 101,in the form of a sealing device 301.

The sealing device 301 includes a closure 310 that is functionallysimilar to the closure 110 of the sealing device 101, in that thisclosure 310 includes a closing wall 311, a skirt 312 and a lip 314 thatare respectively similar to those of the closure 110.

The sealing device 301 also includes a membrane 321 that is similar tothe membrane 121 of the sealing device 101, with the sole structuraldifference that the membrane 321 is, at its peripheral end 321A,attached directly to the lip 314, according to considerations similar tothe junction of the membrane 221 to the lip 214. More specifically, asan alternative to the embodiment provided for the junction between thelip 214 and the membrane 221 of the sealing device 201, the membrane 321does not protrude from an inner surface of the lip 314, but protrudesfrom a lower end 314C of this lip 314, as clearly shown in FIG. 12.

Furthermore, it is provided that the sealing device 301 integrates afluid 340, which, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, fills a free volume V310of the closure 310. This free volume V310 is limited jointly by theclosing wall 311, the lip 314 and the membrane 321 while being closed bythe latter substantially hermetically. Thus, when the membrane 321 goesfrom its first deformation configuration to its second deformationconfiguration, the fluid 340 is compressed, reducing the free volumeV310, and once the membrane 321 is in the second deformationconfiguration like in FIG. 14, this fluid 340 remains compressed, suchthat it constrains the membrane 321 downward. The effect of thiscompressed fluid is, in a way, similar to that of the spacer 27 of thesealing device 1, in that, by constraining the membrane 321 downwardwhile the latter occupies its second deformation configuration, theforce F′ applied by this membrane 321 on the lip 314 is reinforced inorder to press this lip against the neck 2.

By way of non-limiting example, the fluid 340 is a gas, Furthermore,also by way of non-limiting arrangement, the filling of the free volumeV310 with the fluid 340, such as the injection of gas, is done duringthe manufacturing of the closure 310, in particular during its molding.

It will be noted that, advantageously, the presence, in the free volumeV310 of the closure 310, of the fluid 340 tends to reinforce the sealingat the interface between the sealing device 301 and the neck 2 due tothe fact that the lip 314 presses more on this than in the absence ofsuch a fluid, as long as the fluid is present in a compressed state,i.e., with a pressure at least slightly greater than the atmosphericpressure, independently of the deformation configuration of the membrane321.

Various developments and alternatives to the sealing devices describedthus far can also be considered. By way of examples:

-   -   the different embodiments described'above can be at least        partially combined with one another to lead to new embodiments;    -   rather than being screwed, the closures 10, 110, 210 and/or 310        can be designed as “snapped” closures; in this case, their        removable attachment means to the neck 2, provided on the inner        surface of their skirt, comprise a clip, continuous or        interrupted on the inner periphery of the skirt, this clip being        suitable for being jammed, removably, below a protruding outer        boss of the body 4 of the neck 2;    -   as an option, not shown in the figures, the closures 10, 110,        210 and/or 310 integrate breakable means indicating their first        opening, for example in the form of an annular band centered on        the axis X-X, which is connected by frangible bridges to the        bottom end of their skirt and which, the first time the closure        is opened, is kept permanently around the neck 2 by an ad hoc        relief of the latter; if applicable, when the closure is        manufactured, these frangible bridges are made by cutting the        skirt and/or this band is partially folded toward the inside of        the closure in order to form a stop, which, the first time the        closure is opened, cooperates, in particular by axial bearing,        with the aforementioned relief of the neck; in all cases, the        manufacturing operations of the closure, relative to these small        bridges and/or this band, are advantageously done at least        partially concomitantly with the assembly of the sealing device        when the latter includes, in addition to its closure, an        attached component, such as the sealing devices 1 and 101        including the closure 10, 110 and the insert 20, 120, or such as        the sealing device 201 including the closure 210 and the cap        230;    -   for the case where the membrane comprises concentric parts, like        for the membranes 21 and 221, more than two concentric parts can        be provided in order to facilitate and/or amplify the        deformation of this membrane, in particular based on the outer        diameter of the membrane; and/or    -   the axial level, at which the peripheral end of the membrane is        attached either to the ring or directly to the lip, is not        limited to those considered in the figures; in particular, for        the case where the membrane belongs to an insert like the insert        20 or 120, this membrane can protrude both from an inner surface        of the corresponding ring, like the membrane 21, and from the        lower end of this ring, like the membrane 121; and for the case        where the membrane is attached directly to the lip of the        closure like for the closures 210 and 310, this membrane can        protrude both from an inner surface of the lip, like the        membrane 221 that protrudes from the inner surface 214B of the        lip 214, and from the lower end of the lip, like for the        membrane 321 that protrudes from the lower end 314C of the lip        314.

1. A sealing device for a neck of a container, comprising: a skirt hashaving a tubular shape and being centered on an axis, the skirt havingan inner surface that is suitable for being removably attached to anouter surface of the neck of the container, the sealing device sealingthe neck when the skirt is attached to the neck; a lip having an annularshape and being centered on the axis, the lip being arranged inside theskirt, and having an outer surface that presses against an inner surfaceof the neck to create a seal when the skirt is attached to the neck; anda membrane arranged inside the skirt, and extending globallytransversely to the axis, the membrane having: a peripheral end that isconnected to the lip in a stationary manner in the direction of the axiswhile forming a first flexible hinge for relative movement between thelip and the membrane, the first flexible hinge running over the entireperiphery of the lip on a geometric plane that is transverse, or evenperpendicular, to the axis, wherein the membrane is deformable by movingthe first flexible hinge between a first configuration, in which theentire membrane, except the peripheral end, is positioned on a firstside of the geometric plane, the peripheral end being turned, along theaxis, opposite a locking ring of the neck when the skirt is attached tothe neck, and a second configuration, in which the entire membrane,except the peripheral end, is arranged on a second side of the geometricplane, which is axially opposite the first side, such that the membranepresses the lip against the neck, the axial positioning between theperipheral end of the membrane and the geometric plane being unchangedwhen the membrane moves between the first and second configurations, andwherein the membrane is configured to move from the first configurationto the second configuration, when the skirt is attached to the neck andthe lip is pressed against the neck, and when a pressure inside thecontainer increases.
 2. The sealing device according to claim 1, whereinthe membrane is configured to apply a force to the lip that istransverse and centrifugal with respect to the axis, when it themembrane is in the second configuration.
 3. The sealing device accordingto claim 1, wherein the first flexible hinge articulates the membraneand the lip relative to one another around a geometric articulation axisthat extends around the axis.
 4. The sealing device according to claim1, wherein the membrane includes at least two concentric parts, theconcentric parts being: substantially centered on the axis, and joinedto one another by a second flexible hinge extending around the axis, andwherein the concentric parts include a central part, which, in each ofthe first and second configurations, is axially furthest from thegeometric plane, and a peripheral part, which includes the peripheralend of the membrane.
 5. The sealing device according to claim 4, whereinthe concentric parts of the membrane are joined and integral with oneanother.
 6. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein themembrane is made up of a web, which has a substantially homogeneousthickness, except for the peripheral end, and which deforms between thefirst and second configurations by continuous bending.
 7. The sealingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device furthercomprises a closing wall having a disk shape, and being substantiallycentered on the axis, wherein the skirt and the lip extend axially fromthe closing wall, and wherein the closing wall extends both axially overthe locking ring of the neck and across the entire opening of the neckwhen the skirt is attached to the neck.
 8. The sealing device accordingto claim 7, wherein the membrane is provided with at least one spacer ona surface axially turned toward the closing wall, wherein, when themembrane goes from the first configuration to the second configuration,the spacer comes axially closer to the closing wall, until abuttingagainst the closing wall once the membrane is in the secondconfiguration so as to stress the membrane toward the geometric plane.9. The sealing device according to claim 7, wherein the membrane, thelip and the closing wall delimit a free volume between them, which ishermetically closed and which is filled with a fluid, such that thefluid contained in the free volume is compressed when the membrane goesfrom the first configuration to the second configuration, and stressesthe membrane toward the geometric plane once the membrane is in thesecond configuration.
 10. The sealing device according to claim 1,wherein the sealing device further comprises a junction crown betweenthe skirt and the lip, wherein the junction crown has a disk shape, andis centered on the axis and traversed, in a central region, by a holethat is arranged axially over the membrane, wherein the skirt and thelip extend axially from the junction crown, and wherein the junctioncrown extends axially over the locking ring of the neck when the skirtis attached to the neck.
 11. The sealing device according to claim 10,wherein the sealing device further comprises a closing cap, which isattached and fastened to the hole of the crown.
 12. The sealing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the sealing device comprises an insertthat includes both the membrane and a ring, wherein the ring has anannular shape, centered on the axis and surrounding the membrane,wherein to which the peripheral end of the membrane is joined to thering, and wherein the ring is arranged and attached to the inside of thelip.
 13. The sealing device according to claim 12, wherein the ring andthe peripheral end of the membrane are integral with one another. 14.The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral end ofthe membrane is joined to the lip such that the membrane protrudeseither from an inner surface of the lip, or from a lower end of the lip,the lip being turned, along the axis, opposite the locking ring of theneck when the skirt is attached to the neck and the lip is pressedagainst this neck.
 15. The sealing device according to claim 14, whereinthe membrane and the lip are joined while being and integral with oneanother.
 16. A sealing device for a neck of a container, comprising: askirt having a tubular shape and a longitudinal axis, the skirt havingan inner surface configured to attach to an outer surface of the neck ofthe container for sealing the container; a lip having an annular shapeand being centered along the longitudinal axis, the lip being arrangedinside the skirt, and having an outer surface that presses against aninner surface of the neck to create a seal when the skirt is attached tothe neck; and a membrane arranged inside the skirt, and extendingtransversely to the axis, the membrane having: a peripheral endincluding a flexible hinge for relative movement between the lip and themembrane, the flexible hinge being arranged on a geometric plane that istransverse to the axis, wherein the membrane is configured to movebetween a first configuration, in which the entire membrane, except theperipheral end, is positioned on a first side of the geometric plane,and a second configuration, in which the entire membrane, except theperipheral end, is arranged on a second side of the geometric plane,which is axially opposite the first side, wherein the axial positioningbetween the peripheral end of the membrane and the geometric plane isunchanged when the membrane moves between the first and secondconfigurations, and wherein the membrane is configured to move from thefirst configuration to the second configuration after a pressure insidethe container increases when the skirt is attached to the neck and thelip is pressed against the neck.
 17. The sealing device according toclaim 16, wherein the membrane is configured to apply a force to the lipthat is transverse to the axis, when the membrane is in the secondconfiguration.
 18. The sealing device according to claim 16, wherein theflexible hinge allows the membrane and the lip to move relative to oneanother around a second axis that extends around the first axis.
 19. Thesealing device according to claim 16, wherein the membrane includes atleast two concentric parts, the concentric parts being substantiallycentered along the longitudinal axis, and joined to one another by asecond flexible hinge extending around the axis, and wherein theconcentric parts include a central part, which, in each of the first andsecond configurations, is axially furthest from the geometric plane, anda peripheral part, which includes the peripheral end of the membrane.20. The sealing device according to claim 19, wherein the concentricparts of the membrane are joined and integral with one another.